glgracephoto Loc: Arlington, WA

This article may help, it's using the D810 but includes more recent lenses than the best for the D800 did. I also am positive the Nikon 20mm F1.8 will rate well above most here, based on other reviews, but it seems this article didn't have it yet.

http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/Best-lenses-for-the-Nikon-D810-Part-II-Wildlife-and-Landscape-primes-and-zooms/Best-Landscape-lenses-for-D810

Again, the cheapest, Samyang 14mm f2.8 is way up there, if you don't mind not being able to use an ND filter. ND filter was a must for me or I would have gotten that, still might add one anyway for the times I don't need one.

EddieC Loc: CT

B&H has a Nikon 18-35 for $795. You might get one cheaper elsewhere.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Nikon 12-24mm f4. used about 400-500 based on condition.

bruswen Loc: Eugene OR

I will add a vote for the Nikon 20mm f/1.8G. It does everything you want from a wide angle very well. Nikon got this one right!

tuck Loc: Haverhill Massachusetts

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

EddieC Loc: CT

:thumbup: Great lens and you can use your feet to zoom! :D

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have the Tokina 16-28mm, which cost about $700. Nice lens.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

if you can live with it, the 50mm f/1.8 is rather inexpensive. also if you stay with the f/1.8, not the f/1.4, the 35mm is not too expensive.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Indeed, I use the Tokina on my Canon 6 D, I bought that glass used as I could not find a UWA that was cost effective and budget friendly. I also have the Korean 14mm Prime. Both lenses are fast f/2.8 and I use them differently. I bought them at the same time period thinking I would sell the one I though was weakest. I have them both.

J. R.



Busch wrote:
Had the Nikon 14-24 2.8. Used it so seldom that I traded it for the 28-300 & some money. Now i find I should have at least a decent wide angle lens. Can any one recommend a good fairly inexpensive FX wide angle? Third party OK. (It's for a D800.)

Has any one had experience with Tokina 16-28?
Thanks,

Busch

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

I have the Nikon 16-35 f4 on my D750 and love it. It is tack sharp. It is over your budget price for a new one but I have seen thrm on craigslist for around $800.

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

I agree Dave, I purchased the 20mm 1.8 just to have it in my bag. It has fast become my favorite lens, extremely sharp and versatile.

Phil

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I shoot Canon, but my "go to" wide angle with my full frame camera is a 20/2.8 prime... it's quite wide without being extreme.

One nice thing about primes is that many have useful focus distance and depth of field scales, making it possible to use hyperfocal focusing techniques pretty easily. Many zooms do not have these features, or if they do, are pretty limited.

And f2.8, f3.5 or f4 is nearly always "fast enough" with a wide angle, too. That's because they are pretty easily handheld even at relatively slow shutter speeds. Also, wide angle lenses really don't lend themselves very much to large aperture/shallow depth of field effects. They inherently have great depth of field and cannot very strongly blur down backgrounds. So an f1.8 or f2 doesn't often serve much purpose... f2.8, f3.5 or even f4 in a lot of cases can make for better image quality, more sharpness edge-to-edge/corner-to-corner, less chromatic aberration, give more even illumination (less vignetting) and better optical corrections to keep lines straight... as well as lower cost and a more manageable size/weight.

f2.8 and faster lenses also can help with auto focus performance. But the benefits may not be noticeable with wide angle lenses because they usually only have to move their focus group a tiny distance to achieve focus, so typically are quite fast auto focusing regardless of aperture. Plus, the inherently great depth of field of wide angles tends to cover any slight focus errors pretty well.

Something else to consider carefully when shopping for a wide angle is filters. Some of the more extreme lenses use a strongly protruding, convex front lens element that precludes attaching standard filters. There may be custom or DIY solutions that allow large, rectangular filters to be used, but those can be problematic or slow to work with. Some ultrawides have means of mounting filters at the rear or inside the lens or even come with a few filters built-in.

You need to be careful using one of the most popular types of filter on wide angle, anyway. Polarizers can cause uneven effects on lenses with very wide angle views. That isn't always a problem, but has to be watched for and considered if wanting to use a polarizer to enhance the image being made with a wide lens.

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

I have the FF Nikon 20/1.8 prime and it is very sharp. I use it on my d610. This lens runs less than $700. A very good landscape lens. If you can spring for $1,100 the Nikon 16 to 35/f4 is also very sharp and will provide you with more versatility for landscapes and at 35 mm would satisfy family photos.

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

The Tokina 16-28 f/2.8 that I have will cover your your blind spot very well.
It has a very high rating next to the Nikon Lenses in that field.
Craig

Busch Loc: San Diego

I already have both.